Relationship between preoperative patient learning need and anxiety of patients hospitalized at Ear Nose Throat and Head Neck Surgery clinic for surgical treatment

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between preoperative patient learning need and anxiety in patients hospitalized at Ear Nose Throat and Head Neck Surgery (ENT and HNS) clinic for surgical treatment. The study sample comprised 98 patients (56 males, 42 females; mean age 44.4±15.2 years; range 18 to 76 years) hospitalized at ENT and HNS clinic for surgical treatment. A question form prepared based on the literature, Patient Learning Needs Scale (PLNS), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used in the study which was planned as a descriptive-analytical study. Education level of 72.5% of the patients was until high school at the furthest. The most frequent operation indications were chronic otitis media (28.6%) and vocal cord mass/paralysis (18.4%). We detected that, of the patients, 26.5% received training only from their doctors preoperatively, 74.5% did not find the given training sufficient, and 87.8% requested to receive the training preoperatively. Patients' total PLNS score was mean 30.6±5.4. Scores obtained from all sub-scales were within the very significant and extremely significant categories according to the scale's Likert structure. A comparison of anxiety state with learning needs dimension scores revealed a significant relationship only between trait anxiety score and emotions dimension related to the state in univariate analysis (r=0.21, p<0.05). We detected a relationship between some dimensions of patient learning needs and anxiety level. Considering these findings, we advise that patient training programs and materials are developed and preoperative planned patient trainings are conducted.